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Technicians continue final preparations on Discovery prior to its move to the Vehicle Assembly Building. The move is scheduled for May 12. Shuttle program managers will discuss readiness for the move and any final technical details during the Orbiter Rollover Review on May 8.

As a precautionary measure to provide protection from the tin whiskering phenomenon, a reaction jet driver was replaced in an avionics bay and successfully retested early this week. Whiskering is a phenomenon identified decades ago whereby certain metals, primarily tin, zinc and cadmium, develop pure metallic crystalline extrusions.

During retesting of the reaction jet driver replacement, an unrelated problem was discovered in the load control assembly in a line replacement unit box in the forward avionics bay. The remotely controlled assembly provides power to the reaction jet driver. Technicians have replaced the assembly and will retest the equipment over the weekend.

Technicians are carrying out powered-up system testing on Atlantis for its mission to the station. Workers continue to perform water coolant loop samples.

The remote manipulator system, or shuttle robotic arm, is scheduled to be installed early next week. The shuttle arm maneuvers a payload from the payload bay of the orbiter to its deployment position and then releases it. The arm can also grapple a free-flying payload, maneuver it to the payload bay of the orbiter and berth it in the orbiter.

Endeavour (OV-105)

Powered-up system testing continues on Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility Bay 2 following an extensive modification period. Technicians continue completing system leak and functional checks on the liquid oxygen side of the main propulsion system.

Heater checks for the multi-purpose logistics module are complete. The logistics module will be added to the payload bay at the launch pad and will carry supplies and equipment to the station.

External Tank

Following detailed discussions Thursday, Space Shuttle Program management decided that a tanking test of the external fuel tank will not be needed prior to Discovery's STS-121 mission. Managers decided the proposed objectives of the test could be achieved during the actual launch attempt.

Technicians continue to perform final closeouts on the external tank and solid rocket boosters in the Vehicle Assembly Building in preparation for Discovery to be attached to the tank and boosters, or as it's also known, the stack.